Niigata Lantern Festival
No need to venture all the way to Thailand to view this lantern festival. Just hop on the bullet train to Niigata!
Exploring Japan: Part 1
I’m not sure if it’s the history, the food, the pop culture, or the fact that Nintendo helped raise me, but for whatever reason, Japan has captured my heart and imagination for as long as I can remember.
How Do You Work Study into a Random Schedule?
My wife and I were living in the house she grew up in, along with her brother’s very large family. My extreme lack of fluency placed me in an isolated, dependent, and helpless position.
Survival Japanese at the Ramen Shop!
Pick up the key vocabulary and phrases that will get you by in almost any ramen spot!
Take an 8-Week Intensive Sushi Course in Tokyo
The Tokyo Sushi Academy claims to be Japan's foremost trade school for Edomae sushi, offering year-long chef courses and eight-week diploma classes.
5 Ways Oita Salutes the Public Toilet
The Oita Toilennale may sound quirky, but it's just another trusty innovation made in Japan.
Dotonbori During the Tenjin Matsuri
Check out the cool atmosphere of Osaka's Dotonbori area during the Tenjin Matsuri.
Okinawa's Feast of the Dragon God
Featuring everything from dragon dances to taiko drums and massive-scale shodo calligraphy, Uruma City's Feast of the Dragon God festival is a lavish indulgence in local culture.
8 Floors for Period Pics
If you’ve ever wanted to turn back time and step into the clothes of a well-dressed geisha, a pipe-smoking courtesan or a sword-wielding samurai warrior, we’ve found the perfect place for you!
Tokyo: No Place I Would Rather Be
An 18th birthday is a great occasion for a trip to Tokyo.
Discovering Sushi on the Odakyu
The unforgettable feeling of walking into an unfamiliar, unknown shop to discover the best sushi you’ve had in your life.
From Sea to Summit—27 Hours of Exhaustion
For experienced climbers and hikers, hitting the trail leading to the top of Mount Fuji from the fifth station is doable, from the first station is a challenge, but from the Pacific Coast? That's insane!
Autumn Starts in Daisetsuzan
The first place where you find leaves turning color in Japan is Hokkaido's Daisetsuzan National Park.
Tenjin Festival Taiko Drums
Enjoy the various taiko drummers of Osaka's Tenjin Matsuri.
Naha's Tsuboya Pottery Festival
The Tsuboya area has been known as "the town of pottery" since the days of the Ryukyu Kingdom. It celebrates this heritage every November.
Take a 2-Hour Lesson in Japanese Cuisine
Ayuko Akiyama’s Buddha Bellies cooking class offers hands-on courses in Japanese cuisine—including advanced courses in cutting sushi and sashimi.
Exploring Japan: Part 2
Exploring Tokyo: Harajuku, Shibuya, the Robot Restaurant and Yoyogi Park.
Can You Escape?
Japan has hopped on the escape room train and now offers puzzle-solving games for Chinese and English-speaking tourists.
